Commons Sitting of 18 March 1808

PETITION FROM MANCHESTER RESPECTING PEACE.
Colonel Stanleypresented a petition signed by 50,000 persons, inhabitants of Manchester and its vicinity, praying the house to address the king, to neglect no opportunity of entering into a negociation for peace; and to afford such relief as in their wisdom might appear suited to the emergency of the case. The petition contained a vivid description of the distressed situation of the persons whose names were subscribed; and stated their conviction that their distress arose from' the continuance of the war.
Mr. Whitbreadsaid that this petition, signed by 50,000 persons, in addition to the thousands who had petitioned before, laid a great weight of responsibility on ministers. An insinuation had been thrown out, that some gentlemen on his side had had recourse to artifice, in order to encourage these petitions. He knew nothing of any such artifice; and firmly believed, that this petition was wrung from the persons subscribing it by their distresses. The language of the petition was unexceptionable, and even highly respectful. Unless ministers, therefore, shelved a serious disposition to enter into a negociation, it would be the duty of the house to interfere, and address the throne on the subject.—The Petition was ordered to lie on the table.

PETITIONS AGAINST THE ORDERS COUNCIL.
Mr. Alderman Combemoved the consideration of the London, Liverpool, Manchester, &c. petition, against the Orders in Council. This was agreed to, and counsel was ordered to be called in. Mr. Brougham was heard at the bar, as counsel in behalf of the merchants, traders, and others, concerned in the trade between America and this country, and resident in the city of London, and towns of Liverpool and Manchester. The learned counsel, having stated the case of the petitioners with perspicuity and conciseness,

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proceeded to call his witnesses. The first was G. W. Wood, a partner in an extensive cotton manufactory in Manchester. The object of his deposition was to prove, that the trade of that firm had considerably decreased in consequence of the Orders in Council. The next witness was a Mr. S. Phillips, whose testimony was to much the same purport. The next witness was a Mr. Palmer, a clerk or agent to the home of Guest and Co. in America.—The learned counsel then stated, that he should next call Mr. Alex. Glennie, for the purpose of proving the interruption given to the course of the remittances between this country and America, by the operation of the Orders in Council. Mr. Glennie was called accordingly, and underwent a long examination.—On the motion of the Chancellor of the Exchequer, the further consideration of the Petitions was postponed to Tuesday.